Liberal Arts & Sciences: General Studies Childhood Education (Jointly Registered with SUNY Oneonta)

Associate in Science Degree

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This unique program provides area students the opportunity to earn New York State Teacher Certification for grades one through six. Students begin by enrolling in the MVCC Associate in Science Degree, comprised of introductory education classes and an array of liberal arts courses, which fulfill all ten of the general education areas required by SUNY for the bachelor’s degree. Students who graduate with the Associate’s Degree from MVCC and earn a minimum grade point average of 3.0 are automatically accepted into the Bachelor of Science portion of the jointly-registered program, which is offered on the MVCC campus. Upon completion of the bachelor’s level coursework, students will have earned a degree in Liberal Arts & Sciences: Childhood Education, conferred by SUNY Oneonta and, assuming successful results on New York State Teacher Certification examinations, will be eligible for teacher certification.

Total Credit Hours: 63

First Semester

This course is an opportunity for students to develop the skills necessary to be successful in college. Students learn the importance of the faculty-student and advisor-advisee relationship, develop time management techniques, apply effective study skill techniques, recognize the implications of living in a diverse society, utilize college resources, and explore career and transfer requirements. Collaborative projects are included. Students matriculated in a degree program must take this course in their first term of study.

This course provides a study of the philosophical, historical, sociological, ethical, and political bases of the N-12 American educational system. It includes a comprehensive introduction to the issues, laws, policies, and practices affecting the education system, teaching, learning, and assessment. It explains ways that teachers and schools can work with students and families to provide a meaningful and equitable education. Topics include diversity in student populations, school funding, high-stakes testing, school desegregation and re-segregation, technology, standardized tests, and learning standards. The history of the American educational system is discussed in relation to current issues and topics in education, teaching, and learning. A 15-hour observation in a general education classroom must be completed.

This course focuses on several kinds of writing-self-expressive, informative, and argumentative/persuasive, and others. A minimum of five essay compositions are required. The course emphasizes the composition of clear, correct, and effective prose required in a variety of professions and occupations. Prerequisites: Appropriate high school GPA or placement test score or EN090 Basic Writing Skills or SL116 ESL4: Advanced Composition or SL145 ESOL Advanced Composition

This is the first of a two-course sequence for students preparing to teach at the elementary school level. Topics include the study of real numbers through a development of natural numbers, whole numbers, integers, rational numbers, decimals, and irrational numbers, together with operations on them. Number theory is presented, along with a discussion of numeration systems including

bases other than 10. The language and nature of reasoning, together with basic elements of set theory, are introduced. Problem-solving is emphasized. Prerequisite: Appropriate high school GPA or placement test score or MA089 Arithmetic.

This course introduces the many and varied facets of psychology. Emphasis is on interactions of individuals in their cultural, social, and economic environments as determined by their cognitive, behavioral, and emotional experiences and training.

(a) Students must complete two semesters (a six-credit sequence) of foreign language. American Sign Language counts as a foreign language in education programs within the SUNY System. Students who have achieved a high school average of 90 or higher in all three years of high school level language OR students who have completed an 80 or higher high school average in all four years of high school level language are exempt from this requirement; however, the language credits must be replaced with courses approved by an advisor. First Semester FL level 101,191, or 201. Second Semester FL level 102, 192, or 202.

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Second Semester

This course examines children’s physical, social, emotional, language, and cognitive development from pre-natal to age twelve. Topics include childhood development theories and research, the recognition and understanding of significant child behaviors, the role of parenting and culture, the role of the teacher, influence of peers, and play. Students must complete a 15-hour child observation in a daycare setting, observing both infants/toddlers and preschool children.

This course encourages a deeper understanding of human nature and the human condition through the study of ideas and values expressed in imaginative literature. Emphasis is placed on the use and development of critical thinking and language skills. Library-oriented research is required. Prerequisite: EN101 English 1: Composition or EN105 English Composition for Speakers of Other Languages or EN106 English 1: Composition & Reading.

This survey course provides an introduction to American history as well as a deeper understanding of how its geography, people, institutions, and culture interact to define the American experience. It begins with Pre-Contact Societies and concludes with the end of the Civil War.

This course continues to survey the development of the American story from an agricultural, frontier society to an urban, industrial nation. Emphasis is placed on the economic revolution of the post-Civil War era, its social, political, and military aspects, and the emergence of America as a world leader. It begins with Reconstruction and concludes with the present.

This is the second of a two-course sequence for students preparing to teach at the elementary school level. Topics include elementary geometry of two and three dimensions, measurement, coordinate geometry and transformations, probability, and statistics. Prerequisite: MA171 Foundations of Mathematics 1.

(a) Students must complete two semesters (a six-credit sequence) of foreign language. American Sign Language counts as a foreign language in education programs within the SUNY System. Students who have achieved a high school average of 90 or higher in all three years of high school level language OR students who have completed an 80 or higher high school average in all four years of high school level language are exempt from this requirement; however, the language credits must be replaced with courses approved by an advisor. First Semester FL level 101,191, or 201. Second Semester FL level 102, 192, or 202.

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Third Semester

This course is a survey of traditional and contemporary literature for children from birth through Grade 6. Literary models include picture books, traditional literature, poetry, fantasy, juvenile fiction and nonfiction, biography, and informational books. Prerequisite: EN102 English 2: Ideas & Values of Literature.

This course is a survey of representative American writers from the Columbian Exchange to 1914, including the Colonial, Revolutionary, and Federal periods, as well as Romanticism and Realism. Prerequisite: EN102 English 2: Ideas & Values in Literature.

This course is a survey of representative American writers from 1914 to the present. The focus is on Modern, Post-Modern, and Contemporary movements in American Literature. Prerequisite: EN102 English 2: Ideas & Values in Literature.

This course is a survey of the world literature masterpieces in English translation from the ancient times through the Renaissance. Among the major writers and texts studied are Homer, Sophocles, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Dante, the Bhagwad Gita, the Jataka, Machiavelli, Rabelais, Cervantes, and Shakespeare. Prerequisite: EN102 English 2: Ideas & Values in Literature.

This course is a survey of world literature masterpieces in English translation from the Enlightenment through the Twentieth Century. Among the major writers studied are Swift, Pope, Voltaire, Roussnau, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Kafka, Ibsen, Camus, Garcia Marquez, Achebe, Mishima, and Mann. Prerequisite: EN102 English 2: Ideas & Values in Literature.

This course provides an historical survey of the literature written by Americans of African descent from colonial times to the present. Emphasis is given to slave narratives, autobiographical writings, the Harlem Renaissance, and the development of the African- American novel. Prerequisites: EN102 English 2: Ideas & Values of Literature.

This course introduces the geographical and demographic attributes of the world, such as environment, cultural differences, ethnic make-up, and diversity. Emphasis is placed on developing a more global outlook on the emerging world community.

For Core GE Western Civilization, choose from the following: HI101 History of Civilization 1, HI102 History of Civilization 2, HI103 History of Civilization: Early Civilization to 1453, HI104 History of Western Civilization 1453 to Present, HU204 History of Art I, HU205 History of Art 2, HU290 Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities: Medieval & Early Renaissance, or HU295 Survey of Western Philosophy.

Natural Science Electives: BI105 Environmental Science, BI141 General Biology 1, BI142 General Biology 2, BI216 Human Anatomy & Physiology 1, BI217 Human Anatomy & Physiology 2, CH101 Physical Science, CH131 College Chemistry, CH141 General Chemistry 1, CH142 General Chemistry 2, CH247 Organic Chemistry 1, CH248 Organic Chemistry 2, GL101 Physical Geology, GL102 Historical Geology, PH131 Physics Fundamentals, PH141 Astronomy: The Solar System, PH142 Astronomy: Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe, PH151 General Physics 1, PH152 General Physics

This course introduces the discipline of political science through the study of American government. Topics include the concept of the political system, democracy in theory and practice, the historical background and content of the Constitution, Federalism, and the role of the Supreme Court in civil rights. It stresses these aspects of the American political system: public opinion, voting behavior, the electoral system, political parties, and modern campaigning techniques.

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Fourth Semester

This course focuses on prevention, intervention, and safety issues facing professionals working with children. Topics include identification, intervention, and prevention of child abuse and neglect, adverse child experiences (ACEs) and trauma in all settings, school violence, harassment, bullying, cyberbullying and the importance of recognizing and identifying the impact of implicit bias on decision making. Successful completion results in NYS certification in Identification & Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect, School Violence Prevention & Intervention (SAVE), and harassment, bullying, cyberbullying, and discrimination in schools; prevention and intervention (DASA).

This course provides an overview of the education of children and adolescents with exceptionalities, focusing on those with disabilities and those with giftedness. Topics include the historical, philosophical and legal foundations of special education and other exceptionalities and their prevalence, causes, and characteristics. Educational modifications, accommodations, and teaching strategies for general and specific classrooms are addressed. Current issues and trends educating children with exceptionalities are explored. A minimum of fifteen hours of observations in a special education setting must be completed. Prerequisites: ED150 Social & Philosophical Foundations of Education and ED205 Child Development or PY212 Adolescent Psychology. Prerequisites must be met with a minimum grade of “C”.

This course is an exploration of Earth Science for students enrolled in the SUNY Oneonta Childhood Education transfer program. Instruction emphasizes learning through inquiry. Content is consistent with the core ideas and learning outcomes perscribed by the Earth and Space Sciences (ESS) core standards, grades 1-6, of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and the National Science Teachers' Association (NSTA). Lecture along with individual and collaborative laboratory activities illustrate various Earth and planetary science phenomena and topics. (Spring only offering).

This course develops musical perception, understanding, and appreciation. It features direct listening and live performances, and demonstrations in a variety of musical styles. It is appropriate for those with no formal musical training.

This course develops perception, understanding, and appreciation of the visual arts through an examination of the role of the artist in a diverse society. The artist is considered within cultural context through an introduction to Western and non-Western art history. Materials and techniques of art are studied with emphasis on the fundamental elements of artistic expression. A field trip to a gallery exhibit is required. Skill in art is not necessary.

This course introduces the history of art from prehistoric times through the Sixteenth Century. Topics include Classical, Medieval, Renaissance, and non-Western examples of painting, sculpture, and architecture. Art is studied within its cultural context with a focus on the interrelationship among the Arts. A field trip to an art exhibit is required. Prerequisite: EN101 English 1: Composition or EN105 English Composition for Speakers of Other Languages or EN106 English 1: Composition & Reading.

This course introduces the history of art from the Seventeenth Century to the present. Topics include Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassicisms, Romanticism, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Twentieth-Century, and non-Western examples of painting, sculpture, and architecture. Art is studied within its cultural context with a focus on the interrelationship among the Arts. A field trip to an art exhibit is required. Prerequisite: EN101 English 1: Composition or EN105 English Composition for Speakers of Other Languages or EN106 English 1: Composition & Reading.

This course provides a survey of significant political, social, economic trends, and institutions in New York State from early settlement to the present. It gives a geographical and historical understanding of the State as well as how New York became the Empire State, molding its own unique identity while playing a major role in shaping and influencing the nation and the world. Attention to the changing pattern of land holding, the development of a democratic commonwealth, urbanism, immigration, industrialism, political feuds, and political factions are addressed along with local history.

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Important procedures for enrolling in the joint program are as follows:

Students apply to MVCC for admission and choose the joint program plan. Students are assigned an MVCC advisor and will be contacted by the SUNY Oneonta staff representative to review transcript materials and requirements of the Oneonta program.

Requirements for admission to the Oneonta program:

A prior criminal record or a history of behavior that presents a direct risk to the safety, well-being, or health of students, faculty, or staff in PK-12 settings may make placement for mandatory classroom observations unfeasible, thereby hindering the successful completion of the program.

MVCC graduates will be guaranteed admission to the final two years of the program, provided they have completed the prescribed coursework in the Associate of Science Degree in Liberal Arts & Sciences — General Studies/Childhood Education with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

No grade below a “C” will be accepted for transfer to SUNY Oneonta. Students have the option of taking upper-level courses offered by SUNY Oneonta at MVCC or taking all courses at Oneonta to complete the B.S. program.

At the time of SUNY Oneonta matriculation, education and educational psychology courses may not be more than five years old. All other degree requirement courses may not be more than 10 years old.

(a) Students must complete two semesters (a six-credit sequence) of foreign language. American Sign Language counts as a foreign language in education programs within the SUNY System. Students who have achieved a high school average of 90 or higher in all three years of high school level language OR students who have completed an 80 or higher high school average in all four years of high school level language are exempt from this requirement; however, the language credits must be replaced with courses approved by an advisor. First Semester FL level 101,191, or 201. Second Semester FL level 102, 192, or 202.

(b) For Core GE Western Civilization, choose from the following: HI101 History of Civilization 1, HI102 History of Civilization 2, HI103 History of Civilization: Early Civilization to 1453, HI104 History of Western Civilization 1453 to Present, HU204 History of Art I, HU205 History of Art 2, HU290 Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities: Medieval & Early Renaissance, or HU295 Survey of Western Philosophy.

(c) English Literature Electives: EN240 Children’s Literature, EN248 American Literature 1, EN249 American Literature 2, EN255 World Literature 1, EN256 World Literature 2, or EN265 African-American Literature: A Survey.

(d) Natural Science Electives: BI105 Environmental Science, BI141 General Biology 1, BI142 General Biology 2, BI216 Human Anatomy & Physiology 1, BI217 Human Anatomy & Physiology 2, CH101 Physical Science, CH131 College Chemistry, CH141 General Chemistry 1, CH142 General Chemistry 2, CH247 Organic Chemistry 1, CH248 Organic Chemistry 2, GL101 Physical Geology, GL102 Historical Geology, PH131 Physics Fundamentals, PH141 Astronomy: The Solar System, PH142 Astronomy: Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe, PH151 General Physics 1, PH152 General Physics.

(e) History Electives include: HI111 American History 1492 - 1850 OR HI112 American History 1850 - Present.

(f) Humanities Electives include: HU186 Music Appreciation, HU187 Art Appreciation, HU204 History of Art 1, or HU205 History of Art 2.